[Still in Control] -- On February 4, 2026, Janet Jackson posted “Happy 40th Control!” on her Instagram. So, let's join Janet – Miss Jackson if you're nasty – in celebrating the 40th anniversary of her third studio album, Control.
This album peaked at #1 on both the US Billboard 200 and the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) charts. And it reached the #8 spot in the UK while also climbing into the top 40, or better, in many countries around the world. It achieved platinum certification in Canada, the Netherlands, the UK and the US. In fact, it went platinum a total of five times in the US! Among the album's many accolades are Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, winning the latter of those two noms.
Control launched seven singles: "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Nasty", "When I Think of You", and the title track "Control" in 1986; "Let's Wait Awhile", "The Pleasure Principle", and "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)" were all released in 1987. All four of the 1986 singles, and "Let's Wait Awhile" in 1987, peaked within the top five of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. "When I Think of You", the third single released in 1986, was Janet Jackson's first single to be a #1 hit on the Billboard 100.
Beyond its undeniable commercial and critical success, Control established Janet Jackson as a star in her own right and set the tone for her next several records. And due to her collab with songwriters and record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, in which they leaned fully into instrumentation featuring funk-based synthesizers, drum machines, and breakbeats, Control was an early paving stone on the road to new jack swing.
Flashback: Control (February 4, 1986)
And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
See you in seven!
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